Nearly half of doctors believe NHS is ageist

Almost half of doctors who specialise in caring for older people believe that the NHS is 'institutionally ageist' and 55 per cent worry about the way they will be treated when they grow old, a new poll has found.

The survey, which was carried out for the charity Help the Aged and involved 201 doctors, also found that two thirds of doctors thought older people were less likely than younger patients to have their symptoms fully investigated.

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Alex Mair, chief executive of the British Geriatrics Society, commented: 'What this research makes clear is that the NHS is currently failing older people. We need to ensure that patients of all ages receive the very best care, regardless of their age.'

Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Help the Aged, said that older people have a right to fair healthcare without being subjected to ageist prejudice.

She noted that, until new laws are brought in, older people are at risk of being ignored, misdiagnosed or even denied appropriate treatment.

According to the Help the Aged Spotlight Report 2008, the number of over-85s in the UK is expected to double in the next 20 years.

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